Disclaimer: Touhou Project and its characters are the property of ZUN.
Lost and Found
It was a cold morning in Gensokyo. Winter had arrived, although it had yet to snow. Fujiwara no Mokou shivered as she made her way to the water well in the clearing near her cottage. Despite the weather she was still dressed lightly in her customary clothes of a pale brown shirt and red pants with its accompanying suspenders. I'll have to unpack my winter coat, she decided, it's only going to get colder from here on out. A wooden lid sat atop the well to prevent leaves and other debris from falling into the water. She lifted it, pleased to see it was not even close to freezing over.
Good, makes life a little easier.
She would have had to use magic to unfreeze it and she did not particularly care for the idea. The only time she truly resorted to using spells and spellcards was when she sparred with Kaguya. And even the last fight with Kaguya was a long time ago. A whispering thought came to her, around the time she died. Mokou's pale brows lifted and came together in concentration.
Who was it that died again? She couldn't remember. It had been so long ago and human life was a mere blink compared to Kaguya and Mokou's own life. As immortal being they witnessed the endless amount of death, while life held them in its grasp for an eternity. Tch, it's too early in the morning to be thinking about this.
Mokou dropped the wooden bucket into the well. It created a splash, the sound echoing loudly in the enclosed chamber as it hit the surface of the water. She pulled the rope and the bucket came to her, heavier now than on its way down. The bucket of water was almost in her reach when she stilled her movements and listened to the sounds around her. A loud rustling met her ears and she resumed pulling the bucket up quietly and placed it on the ground near her feet. She turned to face the direction the noise came from.
Whoever it was made a lot of noise as they stumbled through the bamboo shoots. That's what it sounded like to Mokou, a lot of stumbling. The sounds were traveling towards her direction, towards the clearing where Mokou had built her cottage.
A hooded cloak-covered form exploded out from between the bamboo plants and came to a stop instantly. Mokou noted the surprise displayed on the person's face. Wide golden brown eyes took in Mokou's appearance. Lips parted in order to speak but before the stranger could make the effort Mokou interrupted.
"You're lost?" Mokou asked with a sigh. She bent down and poured the bucket of water she had drawn into the one she came out of the cottage with. She had already grown bored of the affair. Strangers getting lost in the Bamboo Forest was not a new thing. In fact, it was downright tiresome sometimes.
The figure nodded, "Yes. I'm looking for the human village. Is it nearby?" Under the shapeless cloak was a woman. Her voice sounded odd and it hit Mokou a moment later why. The woman was trembling due to the cold. There was a bulky bag strapped to her back. Who knows how long she had wandered around the forest before finding the clearing. Looking closer she could see the woman had left girlhood not too long ago. Taking in the fresh youthful face, Mokou almost felt tired in comparison. Almost. Red eyes rolled in annoyance. Once again, too early to be thinking of such things.
She picked up the bucket, contemplating. She could draw her a map. Or she could escort the woman to the edge of the forest. Which was quicker? The answer was obvious of course. But something in the brown eyes tugged at Mokou.
Doing these unnecessary things... Once more she sighed.
"Follow me," she muttered and led the way to into the house. She could hear the footsteps of the stranger behind her.
"Excuse me-" the voice tentatively called out but Mokou ignored it.
"Leave your baggage by the door and have a seat by the fire." She poured some of the water from the bucket into a kettle and hung it over the fire. The rest she poured into a basin where she proceeded to roll up her sleeves and splash water on her face. There was no sound in the cottage other than the splash of water and the crackling of the fire in the middle of the room. Finishing her morning ablutions, she turned around to see the woman was comfortably seated near the fire, her hood thrown back. Pale fine hair shimmered in the firelight. When was the last time she invited someone inside her home?
She couldn't recall. This woman didn't seem to mind so much about the silence. In a way it almost troubled Mokou. Just give her some tea and get her out, Mokou advised herself. She nodded, her own pale violet hair following the movement. Grabbing an extra cup she made from the segment of a large bamboo stalk she sat down abruptly on the other side of the fire across from the woman. Steam had begun to escape from the long mouth of the kettle and she took it down from the hook and poured the lightly colored liquid into the cups.
She nudged one of the cups toward the woman, "When you are warmed up, I'll escort you to the edge of the forest."
The woman smiled gratefully before taking a sip, her eyes shining, "Thank you! My apologies I haven't introduced myself-"
A light frown passed over Mokou's face as she held out a hand to stop the woman, "Don't bother. I'm not interested in learning your name." The woman looked crestfallen momentarily, "You don't need to know my name either."
"Ah...is that so?"
"Yes, that's how it is." Silence followed her statement and Mokou peeked at the woman through lowered lids. The stranger appeared to be struggling with something, the emotions clear as day on her face. Not my problem, Mokou resolved.
The fire crackled and popped as if to carry on a conversation in the silence. But still, it did not feel uncomfortable. When the cups were emptied Mokou stood and the woman followed. She waited patiently as the woman drew the cloak closer to her body and placed the large pack on her back again. They left the clearing, walking together in silence except for the occasional, this way, uttered by Mokou. The forest dweller could feel the weight of the stranger's glance every so often.
At the edge of the forest Mokou paused, "This is far enough. Take this path down and continue right at the fork in the road. You'll find the entrance to the village soon."
The woman nodded, and Mokou could see the same expression from earlier mixed with hesitancy. After a delay she simply said, "Thank you for your kindness. I hope to repay you soon."
"There's no need. Your thanks is fine," Mokou replied, she was ready to get back to the cottage. Her mind was already on the day's task, she needed to tend to the roof before the first snow fell. She turned and walked off but before she had gotten very far she stopped and turned to the woman again.
"If you feel compelled to repay me then get yourself a better coat," she called back with a frown.
A smile came to the woman's face, a gentle beam combined with two pink patches on her cheeks. Mokou felt a sudden lump in her throat. What the hell? She turned and proceeded on her way again hoping the woman had not seen the redness of her own cheeks before she turned away.
Mokou scowled, what does it matter anyway? I won't be seeing her again.
Thanks for the follows dear readers!
